Container



R. M. DUNNING 2,558,940

CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1951 Filed May 16, 1946 July 3, 1951R, D Q 2,558,940

7 CONTAINER Filed May 16, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 44 40 1 1 I I o 1 1015 O r 30 19-- f 41 I I g Patented July 3, 1 951 CONTAINER Robert M.Dunning, St. Paul, Minn assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St.Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 16, 1948, No.670,227

My invention relates to an improvement in container and deals moreparticularly with that type of container used for the handling ofbottled goods and the like.

In recent years various types of containers have been produced for usein packaging bottled oods such as beer, carbonated water and the like.Certain of these containers have been produced with double top closurepanels arranged to meet in abutting relation between two opposed edgesof the container top. The top closure panels are usually provided withmarginal depending edges along three sides thereof and are connected toa container wall along the fourth edge. In many instances the end wallsof the containers are slotted in their upper edges to receive certainflanges of the top panels. While such structure has certain advantagesthere are also accompanying disadvantages. For example the slotted upperedge of the end wall considerably weakens the end wall. Secondly theflanges overlying the exterior of the end walls of the container have atendency to catch on other containers thereby ripping the flanges attheir connecting corners.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid difllcultiespreviously encountered in containers of the general type described. ThisI accomplish by arranging the flanges of the cover panel to foldinwardly of the side and end walls of the container and by providing ameans of attaching the cover panel flanges to the end walls to provide ameans of connecting the end walls of the container intermediate the sidewalls thereof.

A feature of the present invention lies in providing clip means on theopposed end walls of the container which are engageable with the coverpanel flanges in such a way that a strain on one end wall is transmittedto the opposite end wall.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a clipsecured to each end wall above the hand hold to provide a wide surfacewhich may be engaged by the hands in carrying the case.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a clipinto which the closure panel flanges engage in closed position of thecontainer so as to hold these flanges in definite relation to certain ofthe walls of the container in closed position thereof.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of aclip supported within each end wall of a container which acts to 1Claims. (01. 229-52) tively, along a common fold line 21.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification: v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my container showing the generalconstruction thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the container, the sectionbeing taken through one of the top closure panels and adjacent the endof the clips.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the container.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the end walls and toppanel of the container, the section being taken closely adjacent theends of the clips.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section through a portion of the top of thecontainer adjacent one end thereof.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of my container end wall.

Figure 7 illustrates diagrammatically the blank from which the containerbody is formed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a clip removed from the end walls.

Figure 9 illustrates diagrammatically the manher in which a strip ofmaterial is cut in the formation of rmr clip.

The container A includes a bottom wall It having side walls II and I2connected to opposite edges thereof along fold lines l3 and H. A topclosure panel I5 is connected to the panel ll along a fold line It. Atop panel ll is foldably connected to the side wall panel I: along afold line l9. An edge flange 2a is connected to the top panel I! along afold line 2|. An edge flange 22 is connected to the top panel I! along afold line 23. In usual construction the fold lines l3, ll, I6, l9, 2|,and 23 are parallel or approximately so.

Attaching flanges 24, 25, and 21 are connected to the ends of the panelsl0, II and I2, respec- Attaching flanges 29, ill. and 3| are likewiseconnected to the other ends of the panels lo, II and I2, re-

spectively, along a common fold line 32. End flanges 33 and 34 areconnected to opposite ends of the top panel l5 along fold lines 35 and36. The fold lines 35 and 36 are preferably parallel to and spacedinwardly of the fold lines 21 and 32. End flanges 35 and 36 areconnected to the top panel along fold lines 31 and 39. These fold lines31 and 39 are preferably parallel the fold lines 21 and 32 and spacedinwardly therefrom.

Tongues 49 and 4| are foldably connected to the end flanges 33 and 34along aligned fold lines 42 and 43. Tongue 44 and 45 are connected tothe end flanges 35 and 36 along aligned fold lines 46 and 41.

The end walls are constructed as best illustrated in Figure 6 of thedrawings. Each end wall includes a substantially rectangular bodyportion 49 which is foldably connected along a fold line 50 to areinforcing flap or flange 5|. The flange 5| is foldable through 180degrees to lie in surface contact with the body 49. A notch 52isprovided in the free edge of the flange 6| intermediate the endsthereof. This notch is wider at its base line 53 than immediatelyadjacent the base line, small tabs or fingers 54 projecting into thenotch in opposed relation. These flngers 54 are provided to hold theclip B in position during the assembly operation.

Each clip B is formed as best illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of thedrawings. The clip B includes an anchoring wall 55 having a centralupward projection 56 and substantially aligned upper end edges 51. Anaperture 59 is provided in the projection 56 for accommodation of ananchoring staple or the like. The lower edge of the rear wall 55 isconnected along a fold line 66 to the bottom wall 6|. The bottom wall 6|is connected along a fold line 62 to a front wall illustrated in generalby the numeral 63. The front wall 63 includes a pair of spaced upwardprojections 64 and 65 terminating at their upper extremity by anoutwardly flared edge 66. One or more reinforcing beads 61 may beprovided in the clip, these reinforcing beads extending through the rearwall 55, the bottom wall 6| and the front wall 63 so as to hold the clipin channel formation. The outer edges 69 connecting the upwardly flarededges 66 to the side edges of the clip are preferably rounded asillustrated. In the formation of the clip in the manner illustrated therounding of the comers 69 usually provides pointed ends Ill on the rearwall 55.

The clips B may be formed with a short wall portion 1| between theupwardly projecting portions 64 and 65. This short wall bites into thelower edge of the cover panel flanges in assembled form of the containerand may assist in holding the ends of the case from bowing outwardlywhen the cover is closed.

The clips B are preferably formed from strip stock as indicated inFigure 9 and the only material wasted is that punched from the aperture59. This permits considerable economy in manufacture which is animportant item in the production of containers and the like.

In the assembly of the case A the ends may first be assembled with theclips B. This is accomplished by folding the flap or flange 5| from thedotted position in Figure 6 to the full line position therein so as toprovide a double thickness upper end edge. The clip B is inserted inplace as illustrated in Figure 6 the rear wall 55 being sandwichedbetween the flange 5| and the body 49, and the bottom wall 6| of theclip engaged against the base 53 of the notch 52. When in this positionthe clip B is held in place by the fingers 52. The folded edge is theninserted in a stapling machine, the mandrel of the stapling machineextending in the notch between the projections 64 and 65 of the frontwall 63. The clip is designed so that when the mandrel of the staplingmachine isengaged against the upper edge of the short wall portion H thestaple will pass through the aperture 59 adjacent the upper edgethereof. Thus a staple may beinserted through the clip aperture andthrough Y the flange 5| and body 49 to hold the clip firm- 1y attachedto the end wall. This clip is indicated by the numeral 12 in Figure 6 ofthe drawings. Additional clips 13 may be inserted through theflange 5|and the end wall 49 adjacent the ends of the clip to further anchor theclip in place.

The end walls 49 are attached to the side walls as best illustrated inFigure 1 of the drawings. The flanges 24, 25, and 26 on one end of thebottom wall Ill and side walls II and I2 are folded to lie exteriorly ofone end wall 49 and these flaps are stitched to the end wall by suitablemeans as by the staples 14. The other end wall is similarly attached tothe bottom and side walls IO, N and I2 by attachment to the flanges 29,36, and 3|.

The flanges 33, 34, and 20 on the top closure panel l5 are folded downin right angular relation to the panel |5 with the tongues 40 and 4|lying inwardly of the flange 20. Staples such as 75 are inserted throughthe tongues 46 and 4| and the flange 26 to hold the flanges 26, 33, and34 .at right angles to the closure panel l5. In a similar manner theflanges 22, 35, and 36 are folded down at .right angles to the coverpanel I! with the tongues 44 and lying inwardly of the flange 22 andthese tongues are attached to the flange 22 by staples such as 15.

It will be noted that the clips B are secured to the end walls 49 at apoint substantially flush with the upper edge of the hand holds I6. As aresult the container may be readily lifted and carried by inserting thehands through the hand holds 16. The lower edges 6| of the clips form awide surface which may be comfortably engaged by the fingers and thefingers may fold upwardly over the front walls 63 of the clips to forman easy manner of grasping or carrying the container.

When the container is closed the end flanges 33 and 35 engage within thefront wall 63 of one of the clips B on one end wall 49 while the flanges34 and 36 engage inwardly of the front wall 63 of the clip B on theopposing end wall. Thus the clips B serve the purpose of limiting thedownward closing of thecover panels l5 and II. The flanges 20 and 22extend through the notch in the front wall of each clip between theprojecting portions 64 and 65, thus forming a rigid center support inthe top of the container. Furthermore as the end flanges on the coverpanels at one end of the container are engaged in one clip 5 B and asthe flanges on the other end of the cover panels are engaged in the clipon the opposite end wall, the strain on one end wall tending to pull theend wall outwardly is transmitted through the cover panels and theflanges 26 and 22 to the other end wall. This arrangement is extremelydesirable as containers of the type described may be used for carryingbottlev goods such as beer or other goods which possesses considerableweight. As the container is grasped by one hand hold 1, the end wallgrasped would tend to bow outwardly. This strain is transmitted in themanner described to the opposite end wall and thus the strain equalizedto prevent injury to the case.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my container, and while I haveendeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of thefollowing claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A container including a bottom wall, side walls and end wallsconnected thereto, top closure panels foldably connected to said sidewalls, and connected marginal edge flanges extending along the remainingedges of said top closure panels, and channel shaped clip meansprojecting inwardly from said end walls and having spaced projectionspositioned to receive portions of said edge flanges of both closurepanels in closed position of said top panels.

2. A container including a bottom wall, side walls and end wallsconnected thereto,- top closure panels foldably connected to said sidewalls, and connected marginal edge flanges extending along the remainingedges of said top closure panels, and channel shaped clip means securedto the inner surface of said end walls and having a pair 01' spacedprojections on one side thereof each engageable inwardly of portions ofsaid edge flanges of difierent closure panels.

3. A fiber container including a bottom wall, side walls and end wallsconnected thereto, top closure panels foldably connected to said sidewalls, and connected marginal edge flanges extending along the remainingedges of said top closure panels, and relatively rigid bifurcated clipmeans on the end walls of said container including spaced upwardprojections each engageable with portions of one of the edge flanges ofa different one of said top panels.

4. A container including a bottomwall, side walls and end wallsconnected thereto, top closure panels foldably connected to said sidewalls, and connected marginal edge flanges extending along the remainingedges of said top closure panels, and clip means secured to the endwalls to extend inwardly therefrom, said clip means including spacedprojecting portions extending substantially parallel to said end wallsand spaced inwardly therefrom, the edge flanges of both of said toppanels being engageable between said projecting portions and theadjacent end wall.

5. A container including a bottom wall, side walls and end wallsconnected thereto, top closure panels foldably connected to said sidewalls, and connectedmarginal edge flanges extending along the remainingedges of said top closure panels, and a clip secured to each end wall,said clip being ofcfi'annel formation, one side of said clip beingsecured adjacent the inner surface of an end wall and the other side ofthe clip being positioned in spaced relation thereto, said other side ofsaid clip including a pair of spaced upwardly extending projections, oneof which is positioned to engage a portion of the edge flange of one ofsaid top panels, and the other projection being positioned to engage theportion of the edge flange of the other of said top panels.

6. A container end wall comprising an end wall panel, a flap foldablyconnected to the upper edge of said panel and folded to overlie aportion of the inner surface of said end wall panel, and a clip anchoredto said end wall panel, said clip having one side thereof interposedbetween said flap and said side wall, a bottom portion extending beneaththe free edge of said flap, and a second side extending substantiallyparallel to and spaced from said flap a distance at least equal to thethickness of the flap, said other side including a pair of upwardlyextending spaced projections.

7. A container end wall including a generally rectangular panel, areinforcing flap overlying a portion of the same and terminatinginwardly of a panel edge, a notch in the inward edge of said flap, aclip having a pair of substantially parallel sides and a connectingbottom portion, one of said sides being interposed between said flap andsaidpanel, and the bottom portion of said clip being frictionallyengaged in said notch, the other side of said clip being-spaced fromsaid flap a distance greater than the thickness of said flap, and meansfor holding said clip, flap, and panel in assembled relation.

ROBERT M. DUNNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Glascofl, Jr. et al. Oct. 22, 1946

